Lancaster, California City Council Votes To Make Solar Power Mandatory In New Homes

Their city slogan is, "It's positively clear," and now the city of Lancaster, California is becoming the first in the United States to make solar power mandatory in new homes.

The Lancaster City Council recently adopted a new zoning ordinance that requires builders of new homes to provide solar-generated power averaging at least one kilowatt per house.

The vote by the council was unanimous but not everyone in the city is on board.  A representative with The Building Association of Southern California says a mandatory requirement of solar power will only serve to increase the cost of homes.

The new ordinance will take effect in January 2014.